Little Amigo

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Little Amigo`, which is characterized by its blooms of intense Vermilion and vigorous growth habit. (More detailed description to follow.)

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, miniature bush plant of the miniature class; the variety beingprimarily characterized as an orange-red.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms, borne singly or in sprays, held very erect and wellabove the foliage.

Has a slight fragrance.

The plant ranges in height from 12 to 24 inches. The canes are sturdyand erect, heavily branched with medium foliage covering. The plant is amoderate to heavy bloomer that does well in either the green house oroutdoors.

The plant is very vigorous with good growth habits, well shaped andattractive in appearance, bearing numerous leaflets of average size.

The seed parent was Futura (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,569), and the pollenparent was Orange Honey (Miniature Rose Plant, orange blend; R. S.Moore; introduced by Sequoia Nursery, 1979).

Subsequent to the origination of the variety, I have successfullyreproduced it at Tiny Petals Nursery located at aforesaid retaining thedistinguishing characteristics through succeeding propagations bycuttings.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Julyand August. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista, Calif., andare believed to be accurate standards for this same cultivar in similarconditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

The color photograph illustrates the variety.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Little Amigo`, the following is a detailed descriptionthereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being byreference to The British Colour Council Horticultural Colour Chart,except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, green house or outdoor, exhibition quality orgarden decoration potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Little Amigo.

Flowers borne: One to a stem or in sprays of 3 to 5 or more on erectstems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Moderate to heavy both outdoors and greenhouse grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Medium to long (averaging 25 to 30 mm); average diameter andsturdy; medium green with light to occasionally heavy tinting of bronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and abundant over the entire surface of thepeduncle, calyx tube and sepals.

Calyx.--Color is near Pod Green (061 to 061/1 page 120).

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (35 to 40 mm).

Petalage.--Double -- Averaging about 30 to 40 petals, arranged regularlyplus petaloids (6 to 10 or more).

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom progresses. The petals remain atfirst somewhat tightly cupped with the tips and/or margins reflexedoutward, becoming later at maturity more loosely cupped. At the fullyopen stage, the petals reflex at their margins, rolling under from theapex petal on of the petals on both sides.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance and a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petals are of a broad obovate form with a slight peak atthe apex. The intermediate petals are very much like the outer petalsonly narrower. The inner petals are narrower obovate form; very littledifference between the intermediate and inner petals in noticeable. Thepetaloids are like small lanceolates with occasional irregularities inshape.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (July and August1983), Chula Vista, Calif.

All petals and petaloids.--Upper surfaces -- Near Vermilion (18 to 18/1page 18) with a small area at the base of the petal of white to nearwhite. Under surfaces -- Near Geranium Lake (20 to 20/1 page 20) with asmall area at the base of the petal of Geranium Lake (20/2 to 20/3 page20) and a very small base tip of white to near white.

Flower longevity.--(July and August 1983) Plant in pot 4 to 6 days frombud with sepals down to fully open bloom. Holding at fully open withbarely any noticeable fading of color for additional 6 to 8 days beforedropping petals. Cut blooms at livingroom temperature 4 to 5 days orlonger from bud to open bloom.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filament.--Varying in length; reddish in color.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistol.--Short, abundant and compacted together by stamens.

Styles.--Short and uniform in length; reddish in color.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seed.--Few or none.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as bloom opens, but does notrecurve against the peduncle.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Five to seven leaflets on the average; medium size for aminiature rose plant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margin.--Very serrated with occasional tinting of bronze.

Color.--Ranging from near Scheeles Green (860 to 860/1 page 175) to nearSpinach Green (0960 to 0960/1 page 187) with occasional bronzing of themargins. The upper surface have a satiny finish, and the under surfaceshave a matte finish of a slightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface may have a few small hair;grooved. Under side is smooth except for a few sparse thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from short to medium; average width;tapering auricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bushy, much branched; average to large for a miniaturerose plant.

Growth.--Vigorous.

Canes.--Medium; sturdy; held very erect.

Main stems.--Color -- Ranging from near Scheeles Green (860 to 860/1page 175) to near Spinach Green (0960 to 0960/1 page 187) withoccasional tinting of bronze, especially noticeable on the newer stems.

Thorns.--Averaging 12 to 15 per 10 cm on the main stems, and fewer onthe branches. Pale yellow or reddish in color with occasional bronzing.Average to large in size. May be straight or hooked slightly downward.

Branches.--Color -- Ranging from near Scheeles Green (860 to 860/1 page175) to near Spinach Green (0960 to 0960/1 page 187) with occasionalbronzing. Thorns -- As previously described. Prickles -- Some on thesmaller branches only. Hairs -- None.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Chula Vista, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Little Amigo` of hardy, dwarf, bushy, much branchedhabit, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by itsblooms of intense Vermilion and vigorous growth habit, easy to propagatefrom cuttings, with flower usually borne singly or in sprays of 3 to 5or more.